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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

What’s wrong with Tabitha???

110 replies

Rjd13 · 25/07/2018 14:58

So I’ve learned the hard way that sharing your names with family and friends doesn’t always give the reaction you expect. If I’m having a girl I love Tabitha and so does my other half. I’m due in early October so think it suits the season too.

Everyone I’ve told hates it. HATES. IT.

I really don’t understand why it’s so contentious and it’s really upset me. I get a lot of ‘that’s a cats name’ yet I know of pets called jasper, molly, tess etc and there doesn’t seem to be the same concern. So even if it is associated with cats - why is that so bad?

My mum and nan have joked about using the middle name instead and other people have laughed or even gone as far to say it’s cruel. Am I mad? I don’t like anything else half as much 😩

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PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 25/07/2018 20:46

I like it. It makes me think of Jilly Cooper and Bewitched, neither of which are bad!

You could just go with the cat associations — a family friend has a Tabitha, a Catherine and Imogen, and they're known as Kitty, Tabby and Moggy. She hated her DH for doing that at first (he calls them his kittens) but it does really suit them all!

DramaAlpaca · 25/07/2018 20:40

I don't get the Tabitha love on MN at all. It's perfect for a cat, in fact my own favourite ever cat was called Tabitha, but to me it just doesn't sit right on a human being. I can't quite put my finger on why & I realise it's weird, but there it is.

Cbeebiesrehab · 25/07/2018 20:40

My daughter is called Effie (bc Evelyn) and before she was born my sister said ‘well I will be calling her Evie’ I quite promptly told her that she won’t be calling her that as it’s not her name and she will call her what I have chosen or I will be getting very angry. She has never once dared mutter Evie and agrees she suits Effie perfectly.

Stick to your guns. Once she’s born she will become little Tabitha and your family won’t remember what the issue ever was!

Cosmoa · 25/07/2018 20:34

It's not my naming style but I think it's a gorgeous name!

My Mum wasn't sure about my daughters (very rare) name when I first told her it. It took her a while to get used to it and it wasn't until she saw it written down that she realised she liked it. And once she was born she said she wouldn't suit any other name! But luckily my Mum said all the way through my pregnancy "you could call her bin bag for all I care.. I'll still love her all the same" Smile

DickVanTyke · 25/07/2018 20:31

I like it. I suggested it to DH for DD but he vetoed it along with everything else for being too posh, maybe that's an issue for other people too?

AdultHumanFemale · 25/07/2018 20:29

Such a nice name!

TeaAddict235 · 25/07/2018 20:26

I like @ShirleyPhallus for the response. That is the response that all parents who name their children should have.

Tabitha is a knightly name if I may say so myself. A doctor friend of ours is called Tabea (Romanian spelling) and she is the most graceful and essentially lady like person I have ever met. She is also one of 7 and just amazing. I luvs her a million times over. Hopefully your little one will be loved as a friend one day too Smile

Creatureofthenight · 25/07/2018 20:15

I like it, it was on my long list. It does make me think of a cat but I still like it!

commonarewe · 25/07/2018 20:11

Beautiful name... for a cat! Grin

greendale17 · 25/07/2018 20:04

Cat

ragged · 25/07/2018 20:02

I don't like it, sorry, not that you should care. Maybe I could describe why I don't like it but not sure you should care. Grin it's not a mad or bad choice, just devoid of attraction imho.

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 25/07/2018 19:56

Tell everyone that you have changed your minds on their advice, pick something really horrible as your alternate, I recommend Griselda (apologies to any Griseldas on MN). When your baby is born, name her Tabitha. Nobody will care as they will be busy admiring her cuteness.

Also what ShirleyPhallus said.

QueJamones · 25/07/2018 19:52

Go with Tabitha. Tell them she doesn't have a middle name (even if she does - you can tell them later when they live Tabitha and can't think of her as anything else. I like it, but love Talitha!

AuntieStella · 25/07/2018 19:47

I think Tabitha is a gorgeous name.

It's a great shame it didn't go with DH's surname.

curiouscatgotkilled · 25/07/2018 19:44

I have a Tabitha, she's mainly Tabby but we mainly get lovely reactions, or people are polite but either way I don't care... We love it, it suits her, it's a beautiful classic name with sweet nicknames and associations. But also... never tell future baby name to anyone if you value their opinion.

Frankwindsor · 25/07/2018 19:39

Great name :)

ThanksItHasPockets · 25/07/2018 19:31

On the one hand, I rather like Tabitha.

On the other hand, I have a good friend called Tabitha who has ALWAYS hated her name, and I feel I have to bow to her hard-won experience...

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 25/07/2018 19:26

Tabitha is superb.

Yogagirl123 · 25/07/2018 19:25

I love it, too!

unadventuretime · 25/07/2018 19:23

I think it's a bit pretentious/try hard tbh but it's not totally "out there" or over-used so 👍 overall I guess.

flumpybear · 25/07/2018 19:19

I've got a DD called Tabitha and everyone including her loves her name

My mum hated it! Mum is dead now .... not because of that tho

thenorthernluce · 25/07/2018 19:00

Absolutely nothing wrong with it - it’s a lovely name.

Yika · 25/07/2018 18:58

Tabitha is a beautiful name, I love it.

KERALA1 · 25/07/2018 18:58

When I told a lady in the hospital my newborn's name she said "oh". Its not Tabitha but along those lines.

I was quite hurt until I found out her twins were called Ben and Tom probably the dullest name combination possible

RavenWings · 25/07/2018 18:57

It's one of my pet hates as names go. Too fluffy and prissy sounding, reminds me of a cat or a witch as said above. But if you are set on it go for it, no one will like every name.

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